Etiquette is a word that's often heard in relation to golf, more so than with any other sport. But it's not just about manners.
There are some rules of golf etiquette are what they are for several very important reasons:
Many of them relate to the safety of golfers, many relate to pace of play (which helps keep the game enjoyable), and other rules of golf etiquette relate to maintaining the quality of the golf course.
In other words, golf etiquette is an essential and important part of the game. And it's something that newcomers to the game often learn as they go - on the course, when playing with more experienced golfers.
If you are new to the game, or just need to brush up on your golf etiquette, here are some basic rules of the road that will help keep the game enjoyable for you and those around you.
Keep It Safe * Do not swing your club until you know that others in your group are at a safe distance.
Likewise, keep your distance when others are swinging. Be aware to steer clear of trouble. * When practicing your swing, never swing in the direction of another player. There may be pebbles or twigs or other matter in the grass that could fly up and injure a playing partner. * Do not hit the ball until you are certain that the group ahead of you is out of range. * If your ball appears headed toward another player or another group, give them a warning by yelling out, "Fore!" * Observe the safety suggestions posted in golf carts and drive carefully. Golf etiquette requires keeping your cart off the grass as much as possible. * Never throw clubs in anger. In addition to being rude and childish, it could also be dangerous.
Maintain a Good Pace * Keep the round moving by being prepared to hit your shot when it is your turn. You probably don't like waiting on other groups - don't make other groups wait on you. * The player who is away hits first in a group. However, in friendly matches (as opposed to tournament play), this rule can be ignored in favor of "ready play" - players hit as they are ready. All players should agree to "ready play" before it is put into effect. * Do not spend too much time looking for a lost ball, particularly if there is a group behind you ready to play. If you insist on taking the full five minutes alloted to look for lost balls, golf etiquette says wave up the group behind to allow them to play through. * Always try to keep pace with the group ahead of you. If space opens in front of you, allow a faster group to play through. * When two players in a cart hit to opposite sides of a hole, drive to first ball and drop off that player with his club, then drive to the second ball. After both players hit, meet up farther down the hole. * When walking from your cart to your ball, take a couple clubs with you. Taking only one club, then having to return to the cart to retrieve a different club, is a huge time-waster. * Always leave the putting green as soon as your group has finished putting.
More Tips for Fighting Slow Play
Be Kind to the Course * Observe cart rules. Some courses will post "cart path only" signs; others will ask you to observe the "90-degree rule." Do as you are told. * Keep carts away from greens and hazards. * Repair all divots. * Repair all ball marks on the green. * Always rake sand traps after hitting to erase your footprints and damage to the area where your ball was. * Never take a divot on a practice swing.
And a Few More Golf Etiquette Hints * Quiet, please! Never talk during another player's swing. * Do not yell out following a shot. Even if boisterous behavior doesn't bother your playing partners, there are other people on the course who may be within earshot. * Be aware of your shadow on the putting green. Don't stand in a place that causes your shadow to be cast across another player or that player's putting line. * Never walk through a playing partner's putting line. Your footprints might alter the path of a partner's putt. Step over the putting line, or walk around (behind) the partner's ball.
So, the next time you are on the course, do take note of the above golf manners and I am sure you will not only enjoy your game, your score will also indirectly improve. Till next time, see ya!
Happy teeing off!
Because I'm so new, I was trying to do everything I was told to do to hit the ball right: stand a certain way, grip the club a certain way, swing a certain way. I was pretty sure I was doing what I was told, but it was always ending in disaster. IF the ball went in the right direction, it never went far. But usually it was going everywhere but where I thought I was aiming.
That's when it struck me: the stance I was using and the way I was swinging was very uncomfortable for me. Not because I was doing it wrong, but because I have a bad lower back. You see, I was rear-ended in my car by a large truck about 8 years ago, and since then my lower back gives me problems.
I decided that it just didn't make sense for me to try and stand the way a person with a normal lower back would stand, and to swing the way a person who has a normal lower back would swing. Doing that was hurting me, so it was counter-productive. Realizing this, I changed to a stance and a swing that felt comfortable.
Low and behold, after making those changes I was making beautiful swings and hitting 200-250 yard shots exactly where I wanted them to go 80% of the time. I can't even begin to describe how good that made me feel.
I realized on my way home that there's a lesson in what happened to me out on the driving range. A lesson I thought I would share with you here.
If what works for somebody else is working against you, it doesn't matter how hard you try to duplicate somebody else's success their way--it's probably not going to work for you.
You need to focus on your strengths. Perhaps work in a field that you know to be profitable, but work in it in a way that is productive for you, not necessarily the way that is productive for somebody else--regardless of how successful they are.
An example that relates to Internet Marketing: I've proven in a recent case study at my blog that writing articles is a great way to bring a lot of free traffic to your web site. If you love to write, this is great news!
But what if you hate writing? What if there's nothing you hate more than researching and writing articles? How well do you think article marketing is going to work for you?
True, you might find some success with it if you keep working harder and harder, but it's not going to make you happy. You're not going to have a sense of satisfaction after completing an article. It will probably just leave you drained.
When you then start comparing your own limited success to the enormous success that's been attained by somebody who loves to write, it will only dishearten you and make you want to give up.
So what do you do? You know articles can bring a lot of traffic, and you want traffic, but you hate writing! Well then, find a solution that's more comfortable for you. Perhaps hire a ghost writer, or join a private label rights program so you don't have to write much yourself. Don't give up on articles, just find a way to work with them that works for you.
It's just like my time at the driving range. I wanted to succeed at hitting the ball well, but trying to approach it the way the other players were approaching it was hurting me, not making me better.
It didn't matter how beautiful the shots of those other players were. My strengths (and weaknesses) were different, and I had to accept that and find a way to work with my strengths. When I did that, the improvement was remarkable.
Thomas Edison tried 1,500 different materials before discovering the one that worked in a light bulb. Fifteen-hundred. That's a lot. But because he kept trying and found the one that worked, we have light (and so much more)!
What would have happened if Edison had kept trying the same material over and over again because he was sure that it should work?
So learn from what others are finding success at, and try it their way at first in case it works for you. But if it doesn't, don't keep trying harder and harder at something that just doesn't fit you or your personality. Either do it your way, or move on to something else.
Both Eddy Kong Ww & Jonathan Leger are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Eddy Kong Ww has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Asthma and Cars. Eddy has a site which shares how he managed to find out an unique hidden secret. How to have an important ? Get the free report there before it. Eddy Kong Ww's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.